Low bottle crates of synthetic material



Feb. 18, 1969 r A. SCHOELLER 07 LOW BOTTLE CRATES OF SYNTHETIC MATERIAL Tiled Sept. 5. 1966 Sheet of 2 emor:

- ALEXANDER c OELLER BY ATTORNEY.

Feb. 18, 1969 A. SCHOELLER LOW BOTTLE CRATES OF SYNTHETIC MATERIAL Sheet 2 of 2 Filed Sept.

United States Patent EF SYNTHETIC I 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A low bottle crate of synthetic material which comprises a plurality of outer walls and a bottom connected with the outer walls and including bottom bars disposed parallel to the outer walls and crossing each other. A framework is adapted to receive bottles and including disposed parallel to the outer walls of the crate and connected with the bottom bars to define pockets for receiving the bottles. The number of the bottom bars in longitudinal and crosswise directions in each of the pockets is doubled compared with the number of pockets in each of the directions. The bottom bars are disposed such that their crossing points define squares arranged symmetrically in the bottom of each of the pockets. The Open distance of the squares from each other is smaller than the diameter of the bottle heads. Limiting means for the penetration of the head of a bottle are disposed in a lower crate of superposed crates, and the framework walls have recesses within the range of their crossings and upwardly leading in their center from the bottom.

The present invention relates to low bottle crates of synthetic material, in general, and to such bottle crates which are produced by pressing or injection in one working step and in one piece.

Low bottle crates are to be defined as such crates, the height of which is smaller than the height of the bottles, for which these crates are adapted. The bottles are received in these crates for a part of their height only, for instance one-half, so that upon superposition of filled crates, the upper crates engage with their bottom always the heads of the bottles of the crates disposed below.

In conventional manner a framework for receiving the bottles is disposed inside of the bottle crates, which framework comprises walls arranged parallel to the outer walls. Bottle crates are also known, the bottom of which comprises bottom bars connected with the walls of the framework.

A number of requirements are set in connection with bottle crates. The crates should be light for saving of material and transportation weight and must have, nevertheless sufiicient rigidity. Furthermore, the crates should be easily manageable in their empty and filled state and must be capable of being cleaned easily. In connection with low bottle crates, a further requirement is added, according to which the crate bottom must be designed such, that the bottle crates in case of superposition are supported safely by the heads of the bottles of the bottle crate disposed therebelow. This requirement is complied with in the simplest manner by a closed bottom, which under circumstances is equipped with indentations for receptionof the bottle heads. Due to the arrangement of a closed bottom, the quantity of the material and, thereby, the weight is, however, great, and in addition the cleaning is rendered more difficult, because the washing or cleaning water can flow off with difliculty only.

It is, therefore, one object of the present invention, to provide a low bottle crate of synthetic material, the bottom of which comprises bottom bars extending parallel to the outer walls of the crate, and in which all requirements 3,428,207 Patented Feb. 18, 1969 are compiled with in a particularly suitable manner by a clever arrangement of the bottom bars jointly with additional measures.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a low bottle crate of synthetic material, wherein the number of bottom bars in longitudinal and crosswise direction is always equal with the double number of the pockets in these directions, wherein the bottom bars are arranged such, that their crossing points define squares disposed symmetrically in the bottom of each pocket, the open distance between these squares being smaller than the diameter of the bottle heads, and wherein always an abutment or limitation is provided for the penetration of the head of bottle disposed therebelow, and also wherein the walls of the framework have always recesses guided upwardly from the crate bottom within the range of their crossings and in their center.

By this arrangement, it is brought about, that such crates can be safely set on top of each other, since the bottle heads of the crates disposed below cannot penetrate through the bottom at any point. Nevertheless, a comparatively small number of bottom bars only is required, and, thereby material and weight is saved. First of all, due to such bottom formation, the walls of the framework remain accessible from the bottom within the range of their crossings and their center and can be equipped with cutouts or recesses by the use of simple forms free from undercuts. A further extensive material saving can be brought thereby without essential reduction of rigidity. Furthermore, the crate can be cleaned more easily, because dirt corners are avoided.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a low bottle crate of synthetic material, wherein the cut-outs or recesses reach nearly the upper edge of the walls of the framework and are dimensioned as to their width such, that from each wall of the framework, only narrow ribbons lead downwardly to the crate bottom and are connected with the bottom bars. In this manner a maximum weight saving can be obtained.

For the realization of the limitations provided in each square of the bottom several possibilities exist. In accordance with a further development of the present invention, it is advisable, that the limitation comprises a cross formed of two stays, that the height of the stays by formation of bearing places for the bottle heads is smaller over substantially its total length than the height of the bottom bars, and that the upper side of the stays is disposed in the same plane with the upper side of the bottom bars. By this arrangement, not only is the penetration of the bottle heads prevented with the least possible use of material, but simultaneously bearing places are created which receive the bottle heads of the bottles disposed therebelow, so that a lateral displacement of the crates relative to each other is prevented and, thereby, a falling over of the superposed crates is prevented. It is of advantage thereby, if, in accordance with a further development of the present invention, the height of the stays is smaller than the height of the bottom bars over a length corresponding with the diameter of the bottle heads. The bot tle heads of a crate disposed in the lower position are then guided safely into their bearing places by means of the oblique faces.

It is also a further object of the present invention to provide a low bottle crate of synthetic material, wherein the bearing places below the four pockets adjacent the crate corners are set off in the direction to the crate corners relative to the center axis of the faces disposed in the corner pockets. Due to the set-off of the bearing places it is brought about, that the four corner bottles of the lower of the superposed crates stand slightly inclined in the direction to the crate corners and their play in the pockets, as well as the play of their bottle heads is elimi- 3 nated in the bearing places. In this manner the safety of the mounting of the crates on top of each other is further improved.

The stays are disposed advantageously parallel to the bottom bars in order to save material.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a low bottle crate of synthetic material wherein the outer walls of the crates are substantially closed and have on the longitudinal sides always a large faced indentation extending toward the inside of the crates. By this arrangement, in addition to a better rigidity of the crate an advertising face is created, on which writings and the like can be created which are protected against scraping-oft or rubbing-01f. The face of the indentation can thereby lead downwardly into the bottom bar disposed on the outer edge of the crate. This means that these bottom bars are set off inwardly relative to the outer Walls. If the bottom bars arranged on the end sides of the crate are set off inwardly in the same manner, the bottom bars can penetrate into the upper part of a crate disposed below in a number of superposed empty crates, so that also a lateral displacement of empty crates relative to each other is prevented.

With these and other objects in view which will become apparent in the following detailed description, the present invention will be clearly understood in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective top view of a bottle crate designed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the crate disclosed in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front elevation, partly in section, of the crate disclosed in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the crate shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view, at an enlarged scale of one pocket of the crate disclosed in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of :a corner of another embodiment of the bottle crate; and

FIG. 7 is a section along the lines 7-7 of FIG. 6.

Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 to 5, the bottle crate is made integrally of synthetic material. The outer walls 1 of the crate are substantially closed and rounded at the crate corners. On the longitudinal sides of the crates large-faced indentations 2 are provided, which can be used for application of advertising writings or the like. The inside of the crate divided by means of a framework, which receives bottles separated from each other. This framework is formed by framework walls 3 extending in longitudinal direction of the crate, as well as by framework walls 4 extending in crosswise direction of the crate. The framework walls 3 and 4 are equipped at their upper edge with zig-zagshaped cut-outs, which guide the bottles safely into the individual pockets even if they are inserted inexactly only. The framework walls 3 and 4 have recesses 5 leading upwardly from the bottom within the range of their crossings, which recesses 5 lead to an arrangement, according to which the framework walls 3 and 4 are connected always only over a portion of their height. Furthermore, in about the center of the framework walls 3 and 4, further recesses 6 are provided, which extend likewise from the bottom in upward direction. As particularly clearly disclosed in FIGS. 2 and 3, due to the recesses 5 and 6, only narrow bands 7 remain from the framework walls 3 and 4, which bands 7 are connected at their upper ends and lead down to the crate bottom.

The crate bottom comprises bottom bars 8 extending in longitudinal direction of the crate and bottom bars 9 extending in crosswise direction of the crate. In both directions the number of the bottom bars 8 and 9, respectively, is double of the number of pockets for the bottles (not shown). As particularly clearly indicated in the enlarged showing of FIG. 5, thus two bottom bars 8 and two bottom bars 9 are arranged in the bottom of each pocket. The crossing points 10 between the bottom bars 8 and the bottom bars 9 define in the bottom of each pocket symmetrically disposed squares. The position of the bottom bars 8 and 9 are chosen such, that the open distance of the squares from each other and from the outer bottom bars 11 and 12 disposed at the outer edge of the crate is smaller than the diameter of the bottle heads. Upon superimposing of crates, the bottles of the lower of the crates thus cannot penetrate into the free spaces between the squares formed by the crossing points 10 0f the bottom bars 8 and 9. In the squares crossing stays 13 are provided, which likewise prevent the penetration of the bottle heads, as indicated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the height of the stays 13 is less than that of the bottom bars 8 and 9. By this arrangement bearing places 14 are created below each pocket, which bearing places 14 receive the heads of the lower bottles upon superposition of the crates and prevent a lateral displacement of the superposed crates.

The bottom bars 8, 9 and 11, 12, respectively, and the stays 13 form a bottom, which permits a safe superposition of the bottle crates with the smallest possible expenditure of material. A particular advantage of this bottom formation resides in the fact, that the framework walls 3 and 4 are accessible between the bottom bars 8 and 9, and thus can be equipped with the recesses 5 and 6, without requiring complicated molds for the production. The recesses 5 and 6 can 'be dimensioned such, as to their width for the possibly most extensive saving of weight, that only the narrow bands 7 remain from the framework walls 3 and 4, which narrow bands 7 terminate at their lower end in the bottom bars 8 and 9.

In order to render possible also a safe superposition of unfilled crates, the outer bottom bars 11 and 12 are set off inwardly relative to the outer walls 1, and the framework walls 3 and 4 have at their joining the outer walls step formations 15, such, that the empty crates penetrate into each other upon superposition and are prevented to perform a lateral displacement.

At the end sides of the crate are provided gripping openings 16, the engagement face for the hand of a person handling the crates is enlarged by an inner arched section 17 of the outer wall 1. The gripping openings 16 are limited toward both sides by two of the framework walls 3 terminating in the outer wall 1 and downwardly by a wall set off inside of the crate. The two walls 18 and the two advertising faces 2 extend down into the bottom rods 11 and 12 at the outer edge of the crate.

Referring now again to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 6 and 7, another embodiment of the present invention is disclosed, which is substantially identical with the embodiment disclosed in FIGS. 1 to 5. The bottom bars 8' and 9 and the stays 13' are arranged as set forth in the first described embodiment. Bearing places 14a for the bottle heads of the bottles disposed in the lower of the crates are provided by means of recesses of the stays 13'. Oblique faces 19 form guides for the safe insertion of the bottle heads into the bearing places 14a, in the same manner as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 in connection with the bearing places 14.

The embodiment disclosed in FIGS. 6 and 7 shows the four bearing places 14a adjacent the crate corners displaced, however, from the center of the corresponding pockets, as particularly shown in FIG. 6. The four comer bottles are then set slightly inclined upon superposition of the crates and thus have an inclination in the direction to their crate corner. By this arrangement the play of the bottles in the corner pockets required for manufacturing reasons and in view of different bottle diameters, as well as the play of the bottle heads in the bearing places 14a are eliminated. The obliquely set bottles engage thus the framework walls and the bearing places 14a. In this manner, a still safer superposition of the crates can be obtained, because the lateral displacement of the bottle crates rendered possible by the play of the bottles in their pockets and by the play of the bottle heads in the bearing places are eliminated. Suitably, the bearing places 14a in the crate corners are dimensioned smaller than the bearing places for the other bottles.

I claim:

1. A low bottle crate of synthetic material, comprising a plurality of outer walls,

a bottom connected with said outer walls and including bottom bars disposed parallel to said outer walls and crossing each other,

a framework adapted to receive bottles and including framework walls disposed parallel to said outer walls of said crate and connected with said bottom bars and defining pockets, each of said pockets receiving a single bottle,

the number of said bottom bars in each of the longitudinal and crosswise directions in each of said pockets being double compared with the number of said pockets in each of said directions,

said bottom bars crossing each other and defining squares arranged symmetrically in the bottom of each of said pockets,

a cross of stays disposed in and secured to each of said squares of said bottom bars,

the open distance of said squares from each other being smaller than the diameter of the bottle heads,

said cross of stays constituting limiting bearing means for the penetration of the head of a bottle disposed in a lower crate of superposed crates, and

said framework walls having recesses within the range of their crossings and upwardly leading in their center from said bottom.

2. The low bottle crate, as set forth in claim 1, wheresaid recesses reach up to close the upper edge of said framework walls and are dimensioned as to their width such, that only narrow bands leads downwardly from each framework wall to the bottom of the crate and are connected with the bottom bars.

3. The low bottle crate, as set forth in claim 1, wherethe height of said stays is smaller over substantially its entire length than the height of said bottom bars, and said stays are spaced apart from the bottom, and

the upper side of said stays is disposed in the same plane as the upper side of said bottom bars. 4. The low bottle crate, as set forth in claim 3, wherein said stays are disposed parallel to said bottom rails. 5. The low bottle crate, as set forth in claim 3, wherein the height of said stays is smaller than the height of said bottom bars over a length corresponding to the diameter of the bottle heads, and said stays rise from said bearing places by formation of oblique faces to the height of the bottom bars. 6. The low bottle crate, as set forth in claim 5, wherein said bearing places disposed below said pockets adjacent the four crate corners are set off in the direction toward said crate corners relative to the center axis of the bottles standing in the corner pockets. 7. The low bottle crate, as set forth in claim 1, wheresaid outer walls are substantially closed and have on the longitudinal sides of the crate a large-faced indentation extending into the inside of the crate, and said large-faced indentation leads downwardly into said bottom bar disposed at the outer edge of said crate.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,830,729 4/ 1958 Brackett. 3,155,268 11/1964 Fogerty i22021 FOREIGN PATENTS 952,979 3/ 1964 Great Britain. 251,115 4/ 1964 Australia.

JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner.

G. E. LOWRANCE, Assistant Examiner. 

